Investiture Controversy

World famous French Enlightenment writer once said, “The Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire.” Many historians have contested each other over any of these three attributes of the empire. Was it truly a “holy”, “roman”, or even an “empire”?
The Empire’s beginning started when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks at the time, emperor of the newly formed state. The prestigious title remained to the Carolingian family until around 888 A.D. and from 896 to 899. During this time of chaos, the throne was constantly contested between the various factions of what is now Italy. Many civil wars occurred until the last Italian claim was broken when Berenger died in 924 A.D. Pope John XII crowned the next king, Otto,
This began a two century struggle between popes and emperors. The first part of the struggle is called the “Investiture Controversy” which lasted between 1070 to 1125. This conflict was saw both anti-popes rise and fake emperors talk false claims of legitimacy. The second phase came as the Homenstaufen family, having defeated during the Investiture Controversy, tried to re-instate the faltering empire as a secular, feudal state. In this conflict, the word “holy” was placed in the name of the empire to separate the Empire and the Papacy. The emperors believed the Empire was inheritably sacred and did not need the Pope’s blessing to the Empire. The emperors also still believed Italy was in the Empire, which in turn saw the opposition of the Papal States. After the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250, the Holy Roman Empire was in complete ruin. The emperors held any local authority if that. The empire would not rise up any more times after that. It was no longer a single “state” but a touchy alliance between princes under a powerless Emperor. “Of the German Nation” was added during the late 14th Century when all of Italy and the rest of Europe were out of the Empire’s